Algae  as  raw  material  for  biofuels  and  biobased  products  Nordic  Algae  Network,  Ås  2012-­‐11-­‐16    

Niklas  Engström  

Källby waste water treatment plant, Lund, southern Sweden (photo through Hydrotech)

2012-11-16

Why  does  SP  go  for  algae?  

•  Environmental  and  biofuel  goals!  •  Fast  growth  of  microalgae  and  possibility  of  harves:ng  all  year  round  •  Farm  land  not  necessary  –  no  food-­‐fuel  conflict  if  careful  planning  is  made  •  High  oil  produc:vity  (22  x  more  than  rapeseed  per  hectare  according  to  SP  results)  –  surface  efficiency  •  No  lignin  in  microalgae  •  Possibility  of  using  nutrients  in  waste  water,  flue  gas  and  excess  heat  from  the  industry  in  a  biorefinery  –  environmental,  economic  and  clima:c  advantages    

•  Large  possibili:es  for  projects,  tests  and  co-­‐opera:ons  universi:es  –  SP  –  industry    •  Many  product  possibili:es  from  lipids,  proteins,  carbohydrates  etc.    

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Largest  challenges  

•  Harvesting – lots of water! •  Production- and energy costs •  Financing •  Immature market •  Sweden still trying to catch up in the algae area

•  Three interesting areas for algae production: 1) Taking care of non-utilized resources (CO2/flue gas, waste- and processing water, excess heat) 2) Low/medium value products 3) High value products

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Rank  the  main  goals  with  the  algae  biomass!  

The ”trophic level” of products 1.  Medicine 2.  Food 3.  Cosmetics 4.  Animal feed 5.  Plastics 6.  Plasticizers 7.  Biodiesel 8.  Alcohols 9.  Paper 10.  Methane 11.  Biomass for heating 12.  Fertilizers

(Price) Energy

Picture: Niklas Strömberg, SP 2012-11-16

SP BIOFUELS A research platform to promote innovation within liquid and gaseous biofuels from production to end use.    

SP Biofuels

Production •  Algae •  Cropping Techniques •  Side streams agriculture/forests

Conversion •  Gasification •  Digestion •  Cellulosic Alcohols •  Fuel Design and Formulation •  Electricity from Biomass

End use •  Methods for fuel characterization •  Fuel degradation •  Material compatibility •  Filtration properties •  Aftertreatment

Smart  Biomass  

 SoluJons

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Micro  algae  –  SP  research  along  the  whole  chain  from  culJvaJon  to  product  and  use.    Industrial  focus.  

•  Algae  cul:va:on  in  flue  gas  and  waste  water  •  Cost  effec:ve  cul:va:on  methods  •  Chemical  analyses  of  biomass  content  •  Method  development  for  harves:ng  and  extrac:on  of  components  to  different  products,  for  

example  lipids  •  Quality  and  degrada:on  of  biofuels  including  biodiesel  and  biogas  •  New  biofuels  adapted  to  algae  biomass  •  Sensor  technology  to  maximize  large  scale  produc:on  •  Degrada:on  of  materials  in  vehicles  due  to  use  of  biofuels  •  Energy  and  system  analyses    

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Microalgae  at  SP  

•  Cultures  in  the  lab,  up  to  approx.  3  l  volume  •  Marine  and  fresh  water  species  •  Growth  in  simulated  flue  gas  and  waste  water  from  the  industry  •  Cul:va:on  in  plas:c  bags  and  ponds  in  a  green  house  •  Plans  for  a  large  sun  driven  pilot  plant  for  cost  effec:ve  cul:va:on    Example:  Tests  with  flue  gas  from    a  paper  mill:    15  %  CO2,  100  ppm  NO,  10  ppm  SO2    

(in  co-­‐opera:on  with  Chalmers)    

Many  project  applica:ons    

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 Project  now  applied  for:  Algae  cul:va:on  at  a  pulp-­‐  and  paper  

mill  in  Värmland    

Nordic  Paper  Bäckhammar    

Possible site for prototype: Growth of microalgae and extraction of bio oil

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Thank  you!  

2012-11-16